Glen Eira City Council Mayor, Simone Zmood, has issued a statement condemning last Friday’s antisemitic attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue.
“I was appalled and deeply saddened to learn of the violent attack early this morning targeting a place of worship for many in our community,” said Mayor Zmood.
“Our community has no tolerance for the antisemitism behind the attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea.
“While this is a police matter, I want to extend my support to members of the Adass Israel congregation and to our entire Jewish community.
“Antisemitism has no place in Australia and no place in Glen Eira which is a proudly diverse community of many faiths, cultures and backgrounds.”
She said Glen Eira was the cultural home of Australia’s Jewish population.
In 2022, it became the first Council in Victoria to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.
“We are committed to using the definition to strengthen our efforts to combat antisemitism in all its forms in our community.”
“Many of our residents are Holocaust survivors or descendants.
“We stand with the Jewish community, against antisemitism, now and forever,” said Mayor Zmood.
Victoria Police yesterday confirmed the synagogue blaze was being investigated as a terrorist attack, following a meeting with Australian Federal Police and ASIO.
As such, the investigation has formally transitioned from the Arson and Explosives Squad to the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT). The JCTT involves members from Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, who will be supported by detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad.
“This approach will also provide access to further shared resources and intelligence, in order to reach an outcome in the investigation as soon as possible as we understand the distress this has caused the broader community,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
